Staff belonging to the RMT at ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper have voted in favour of taking strikes in their separate pay disputes with the nationalised operators.

RMT members at ScotRail voted for strikes by 85 per cent, on a turnout of 64 per cent, while 90 per cent of the 66 percent who voted at Caledonian Sleeper also supported walkouts.

The union said it will be holding fresh talks with both companies, in a bid to achieve a negotiated settlement.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘I congratulate RMT members in Scotrail and Caledonian Sleeper for this fantastic ballot result. Talks with both sets of employers will be convened in a bid to resolve this dispute.’

Reports say that the first discussions then took place yesterday, and that there will be more talks just under a week from now, on 15 August.

The Scottish Government, which owns both operators, responded: ‘This is a disappointing outcome, particularly in light of the fair and affordable offer ScotRail has made and is still under discussion through ongoing pay talks.

‘For ScotRail staff, the pay offer represents a 9.3 per cent increase in basic pay over three years, plus improvements in other benefits such as maternity and paternity leave.

‘Any industrial action will undoubtedly have negative impacts on passengers and also employees. It is also likely to mean continued timetable changes and more short-term cancellations disadvantaging everyone. We want to provide a long term, secure future for Scotland’s railway so encouraging more people to travel by rail and ensure. The issues at hand need to be settled but there can be no increase on the current ScotRail pay offer.’

ScotRail customer operations director Phil Campbell added: ‘We recognise the hard work of our colleagues and the cost-of-living challenges faced by families across the country and hope that we can come to an agreement on pay which reflects this, as well as providing value for money for the public finances.’